Penn Medicine Becker ENT

  • Patient Forms
  • Reviews

Search

Facebook (opens in a new tab) Instagram (opens in a new tab) YouTube (opens in a new tab)
  • Request an Appointment
  • Find a Doctor
  • Our Locations
    • Our Locations
    • View More Locations
    • Freehold Township, NJ
    • Princeton, NJ (Bunn Drive)
    • Hillsborough Township, NJ
    • Princeton, NJ (Ewing Street)
    • Lawrenceville, NJ
    • Robbinsville Township, NJ
    • Monroe Township, NJ
    • Sewell, NJ
    • Mount Laurel Township, NJ
    • Voorhees Township, NJ (East Evesham Rd)
    • Mullica Hill, NJ
    • Voorhees Township, NJ (Haddonfield-Berlind Rd)
    • Philadelphia, PA (South St)
    • Voorhees Township, NJ (Sheppard Rd)
    • Philadelphia, PA (Walnut St)
    • Woodbury, NJ
    • Plainsboro, NJ
    • Yardley, PA
  • Our Services
    • Our Services
    • Read Our Articles
    • Ears
      • Hearing Loss Treatment
      • Tinnitus Treatment
      • Ear Infections
      • Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
      • Hearing Aids
      • Comprehensive Ear Wax Buildup Care
    • Sleep and Snoring
      • Snoring & Sleep Treatment
      • Sleep Apnea Treatment
      • Turbinate Reduction
    • Nose & Sinus
      • Balloon Sinuplasty
      • Nasal Polyps
      • Sinusitis
      • Sinus Pressure and Pain
      • Sinus Headaches
      • VivAer® and RhinAer® Treatments
    • Allergy
      • Allergic Asthma
      • Allergic Conjunctivitis
      • Allergic Contact Dermatitis
      • Allergic Rhinitis
      • Anaphylaxis
      • Angioedema
      • Drug Allergy
      • Food Allergy
      • Latex Allergies
      • Mold Allergies
      • Penicillin Allergy
      • Pet Allergy
      • Pollen Allergy
      • Seasonal Allergies
    • Throat
      • Swallowing Disorders Treatment
      • Voice Disorders
      • Gender-Affirming Voice Therapy
      • Tonsil Infections
      • Professional Voice Disorder
      • Stroboscopy
      • Voice Therapy
      • FEES
      • Chronic Cough
    • Head and Neck
      • Airway Problems
      • Thyroid Disease
      • GERD
    • Pediatric
      • Pediatric ENT
      • Adenoid Hypertrophy
      • Tonsil and Adenoid Surgery
  • Patients Forms
  • Reviews
Home / Blog / What to Take for Mold Allergies and How to Treat Them Effectively

What to Take for Mold Allergies and How to Treat Them Effectively

Posted by Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy

The information provided below and throughout this website is presented for general educational purposes only and does NOT constitute professional medical advice. This information is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice and NO material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a health or a medical condition. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Treating mold allergies is essential for maintaining good health and avoiding severe reactions. With effective treatment, you can reduce symptoms like sneezing, congestion, and discomfort, significantly improving your overall well-being.

At Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy, we provide expert guidance tailored to your needs. This article offers an in-depth look at mold allergies, including how to identify if you’re allergic, what medications can help relieve symptoms, and the best ways to manage and treat mold allergies. Get in touch for professional guidance from our expert allergists.

BOOK APPOINTMENT
What To Take For Mold Allergies And How To Treat It
Understanding and managing mold allergies is crucial for maintaining good health.

For more details about treatments like prescription medications and immunotherapy for mold allergies, take a look at Our Mold Allergy Treatments page.

Quick Tips for Handling Mold Allergies

  1. Recognize mold allergy symptoms by noticing sneezing, stuffiness, and itching in damp places.
  2. Confirm your allergy through skin or blood tests.
  3. Take over-the-counter treatments such as antihistamines or nasal sprays.
  4. Limit mold exposure by reducing indoor humidity and using air filters.
  5. Seek professional help if simple remedies do not improve your symptoms.

What Are Mold Allergies and How Do They Affect You?

Mold allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to mold spores, leading to symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, and itchy skin. These spores are tiny particles released by molds commonly found both indoors and outdoors.

Indoor molds thrive in damp areas like bathrooms or spaces with water damage, while outdoor molds are often found on decaying plants or in moist soil. Factors such as water leaks or high humidity can increase mold levels in homes, making allergies a persistent issue. For some, mold allergies may worsen asthma symptoms, potentially causing allergic asthma or severe asthma attacks.

Recognizing Mold Allergy Symptoms

If you often find yourself with nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, or dealing with itchy nose and eyes after spending time in damp spaces like basements or bathrooms, you might have a mold allergy.

Pay attention to when your symptoms flare up—mold commonly thrives in humid spots and on rotting leaves outdoors. Keeping an eye on your symptoms and noting where you feel them most can help you figure out if mold is the culprit.

Confirming Your Mold Allergy

To know for sure, ask your doctor about a skin prick test, where a small amount of mold spores is placed on your skin to check for a reaction, such as itching or a rash.

You could also get a blood test that measures mold-specific IgE antibodies. Elevated levels of these antibodies often mean you’re allergic. Getting the right test helps you understand your allergy better and plan how to keep those annoying symptoms under control.

What To Take For Mold Allergies

Medications for mold allergies include nasal corticosteroids, antihistamines, and allergy shots. Dealing with these allergies can be challenging, but understanding how to control symptoms effectively can make a significant difference. While several options are available, it’s usually best to begin with simple, over-the-counter solutions that offer quick relief.

Over-the-Counter Solutions

For immediate relief from the symptoms of mold allergies, consider over-the-counter (OTC) options such as antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids. These medications can help reduce symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing by targeting the body’s allergic response.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines, a very common type of allergy medication, can play a crucial role in managing the symptoms of mold allergies. These medications work by blocking the action of histamine, an inflammatory chemical that the immune system releases during an allergic response to foreign invaders such as mold spores.

Histamine is responsible for many of the irritating nasal symptoms associated with allergies, such as a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. By inhibiting the action of histamine, antihistamines can help to alleviate these symptoms, providing relief for individuals suffering from mold allergies.

Nasal Corticosteroids

Nasal corticosteroids are another type of medication. These medicines are specifically designed to combat the inflammation in the nasal passages often caused by exposure to mold spores. These medications work by reducing the immune response in the nasal passages, alleviating irritating nasal symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and nasal dryness.

Nasal corticosteroids, which can be administered through a nasal lavage or as a nasal spray, are particularly effective for individuals with severe or persistent mold allergy symptoms. These medications are often recommended by allergy specialists for those who have a history of allergies, particularly mold allergies.

Looking for Advanced Treatment Options for Mold Allergies?

OTC medications might not be sufficient for everyone. If your symptoms persist or significantly affect your daily life, contact Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy for advanced treatment options.

Book Appointment

How To Treat Mold Allergies

The treatments for mold exposure include avoiding mold and reducing humidity. These are a variety of strategies, including wearing a dust mask, reducing humidity in the home, and filtering the air.

Woman inspecting mold on a kitchen wall, emphasizing the importance of reducing allergens like mold at home.
Hypoallergenic covers and dehumidifiers help reduce dust mites, pet dander, and mold in homes.

Avoidance of Exposure to Mold

One of the most effective ways to manage mold allergies is to avoid exposure to mold spores. This can be done by regularly cleaning areas where mold is likely to grow, such as garbage cans and refrigerator drip pans, and by avoiding outdoor activities during times when mold counts are high.

Mold spore counts are highest on foggy, humid, damp, or rainy nights.

Wearing a dust mask helps reduce inhalation of airborne mold spores during outdoor or indoor exposure.

Use A Dust Mask

Wearing a dust mask over your nose and mouth can serve as a crucial protective measure to prevent the inhalation of mold spores, especially when engaging in outdoor activities where mold exposure is likely.

Activities such as raking leaves, mowing the lawn, or working around compost can stir up airborne mold spores, increasing the risk of allergic reactions. If you’re dealing with visible mold or a high mold spore count indoors, a dust mask can be beneficial.

Keeping indoor humidity below 50% helps prevent the growth of mold, including toxic black mold.

Reduce Humidity in your Home

Maintaining an indoor humidity level below 50% is very helpful in preventing the growth of various types of mold, including common molds like black mold. This can be accomplished by using an air conditioner, dehumidifier, or exhaust fan, or by opening a window to reduce moisture and humidity in bathrooms or other rooms in the home.

Water seepage, plumbing leaks, or flood damage can create damp environments that are conducive to mold growth. Using a moisture meter can help you monitor humidity levels and detect any potential issues early.

HEPA air purifiers help reduce mold allergy symptoms by capturing airborne mold spores effectively.

Filter The Air

Air purifiers can play a significant role in mitigating the effects of mold allergies by removing mold spores from the air. These airborne mold spores, which can be released by various types of mold, including common molds like black mold, can trigger mold allergy symptoms upon exposure. 

Choosing an air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter is crucial as these filters can capture the tiniest particles, including mold spores. 

Strategies for Mold Avoidance: Indoors and Outdoors

Avoiding mold exposure is crucial for those with mold allergies. Here are practical tips to minimize exposure and manage symptoms effectively:

Concerned woman looking at mold growing on interior wall due to excess humidity and poor ventilation.
Mold can grow rapidly indoors when humidity levels exceed 50%, especially in damp or poorly ventilated areas.

Indoors: Keep humidity levels below 50% using dehumidifiers or air conditioners. Regularly inspect and clean air filters, ducts, and areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens. Fix leaks promptly to prevent mold growth.

Outdoors: Limit outdoor activities during high mold spore counts, typically on damp or humid days. Wearing a mask while gardening or doing yard work can also help reduce exposure.

If Nothing Works, Get Immunotherapy

If nothing else is helping your mold allergy symptoms, immunotherapy might be the solution.

It’s a long-term treatment that can actually help your body become less sensitive to mold over time. How? You get small, regular doses of mold allergens—kind of like training your immune system to stop overreacting. This process is called allergy shots or allergen immunotherapy, and for many people, it leads to fewer symptoms and a better quality of life.

If you’ve already tried medications and controlling your environment but you’re still sneezing, congested, or feeling miserable, this could be the next step. At Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy, we offer personalized immunotherapy plans designed to fit your specific needs.

Mold Allergies and Their Link to Allergic Asthma

If you have mold allergies, you might notice sneezing, stuffy nose, or itchy eyes when exposed to mold. But for some people, especially those with asthma, mold can cause more serious problems. Breathing in mold spores can irritate your airways, leading to coughing, wheezing, and trouble breathing—this is called allergic asthma. It’s a type of asthma triggered by allergens like mold and can sometimes lead to severe asthma attacks.

It could be time to talk to a specialist. At Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy, we’re here to help with management and treatment like medications or allergy shots.

Treat Mold Allergy with a Penn Medicine Specialist

If you’re experiencing persistent or severe symptoms of mold allergies, such as nasal congestion, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, irritated eyes, coughing, wheezing, and an itchy throat, it may be time to see an allergist. These symptoms can be a reaction to various types of mold, including common molds like black mold, which can be found in damp environments both indoors and outdoors.

An allergist can perform tests to confirm whether you have a mold allergy and can provide personalized treatment options, which may include medications or immunotherapy (a series of allergy shots). If you’re looking for an allergy clinic in Philadelphia, NJ, Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy also serves the areas of Glenside, Elkins Park, Bala Cynwid, Ardmore, and Havertown. Contact us today and schedule a consultation with our team of experienced professionals, or reach out to our Walnut Street location.

The content, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website is for informational purposes only. No content on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor represent the opinion of our physicians. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider for any medical condition or concern.

Book Your Consultation Today

Improve the quality of your life.

"*" indicates required fields

By submitting this form I agree to the Terms of Use (opens in a new tab)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Background locations

Call now to schedule your appointment.

Appointments are available. Mon - Fri : 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

COVID-19 Safety Updates

Freehold, NJ

732-375-9550

Hillsborough, NJ

908-271-2102

Lawrenceville, NJ

609-303-5163

Monroe, NJ

609-831-0779

Mt. Laurel, NJ

856-724-4031

Mullica Hill, NJ

856-478-3111

Philadelphia, PA (South St)

215-671-6330

Philadelphia, PA (Walnut St)

215-929-8301

Plainsboro, NJ

609-681-6939

Princeton, NJ

609-430-9200

Princeton, NJ

609-759-8500

Robbinsville, NJ

609-436-5740

Sewell, NJ

856-589-6673

Voorhees, NJ

856-565-2900

Voorhees, NJ (Haddonfield-Berlind Rd)

856-375-1440

Voorhees, NJ

856-772-1617

Woodbury, NJ

856-845-8300

Yardley, PA

267-399-4004

SEE ALL LOCATIONS
Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Sinus Surgery

Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved.
The Rhinoplasty Center (opens in a new tab) | Schrader Facial Plastic Surgery (opens in a new tab) | Rhinoplasty Archive (opens in a new tab) | Lozada Facial Plastic Surgery (opens in a new tab) | Becker Plastic Surgery (opens in a new tab) | Rejuvenation Resource (opens in a new tab) | Kam Facial Plastic Surgery(opens in a new tab) | Anni Wong MD Facial Plastic Surgery(opens in a new tab) | Yamasaki Facial Plastic Surgery(opens in a new tab)
Terms . Privacy . HIPAA . Sitemap(opens in a new tab).

Facebook (opens in a new tab) Instagram (opens in a new tab) YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Call one of our locations now!

  • Freehold, NJ: (732) 375-9550
  • Hillsborough, NJ: (908) 271-2102
  • Lawrenceville, NJ: (609) 303-5163
  • Monroe, NJ: (609) 831-0779
  • Mt. Laurel, NJ: (856) 724-4031
  • Mullica Hill, NJ: (856) 478-3111
  • Philadelphia, PA: (215) 671-6330
  • Philadelphia, PA: (215) 929-8301
  • Plainsboro, NJ: (609) 681-6939
  • Princeton, NJ: (609) 759-8500
  • Princeton, NJ: (609) 430-9200
  • Robbinsville, NJ: (609) 436-5740
  • Sewell, NJ: (856) 589-6673
  • Voorhees, NJ: (856) 772-1617
  • Voorhees, NJ: (856) 565-2900
  • Yardley, PA: (267) 399-4004
  • Woodbury, NJ: (856) 845-8300